South Australia’s farmers are unlikely to have access to genetically modified (GM) crops until at least 2025 after a bill to extend the moratorium on GM crops, put forward by the Greens, passed the SA Upper House by a single vote....

It is expected proponents of the ban will now have enough numbers to get a similar motion through the Lower House, which will see a six year extension of the GM moratorium, meaning South Australia will continue to be the only mainland state that bans the use of GM crops.

South Australia’s grains industry leaders are furious at the decision.

“This is an unmitigated disaster for South Australian agriculture and grain growers,” said Wade Dabinett, Grain Producers South Australia.

“We have had this moratorium in place for ten years – how is it that we have a piece of policy in place where there has not been one piece of work done that provides data to justify why it should be in place,” Mr Dabinett said.

“Other Government bodies, such as the Productivity Commission have said the moratorium need to go, citing a number of factors, yet the SA Government has moved to extend the moratorium.”